Railway traffic controlling apparatus



y 1939. H s. YOUNG 2,156,675

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1958 L If] lj Circuits.

Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Henry S. Young, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 8,

3 Claims.

My invention relates to railway traffic controlling apparatus of the type involving a power actuatedswitch mechanism having operating and locking valve magnets controlled by manually operable means, such as a switch lever of an interlocking machine.

A feature of my invention is the provision of novel and improved apparatus for indicating at the manually operable lever the position of the power actuated switch. A further feature of my invention is the provision of novel and improved apparatus. for controlling the locking valve magnet of the switch mechanism. Other features and advantages of my invention will appear as 2 the specification progresses.

My invention relates to improvements in railway trafiic controlling apparatus of the type described and claimed in an application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 200,464, filed April 6, 1938 by Charles W. Bell.

I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic View of a preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character S designates a railway switch of the usual and well-known form. Switch S is operatively connected with a switch mechanism SM, which may, for example, be of theelectropneumatic type. Switch mechanism SM, as shown here, is provided with operating valve magnets NV and RV, and a locking valve magnet LV, it being understood that switch S will be moved to a normal position when the normal operating valve magnet NV is energized, and to a reverse position when the reverse operating valve magnet RV is energized, provided that in each instance locking valve magnet LV is also energized. A pole changer P is operatively connected with switch mechanism SM, and so arranged that in the normal position, that is, the position shown in the drawing, contacts l-Z and 3-4 are closed,

' whereas in. the reverse position, that is, the position the reverse of that shown in the drawing, contacts 2--5 and 3-6 are closed.

Switch mechanism SM is controlled by a manually operable lever E, such as, for example, a switch lever of an interlocking machine. Lever E is adapted to assume various positions, as illustrated by the diagram. These positions are full normal position N, normal indication position B, reverse indication position D, and full reverse position R. Lever E is provided with a 1938, Serial N6. 194,566

plurality of contacts designated by the reference characters I to I2, so arranged as to be closed at different positions of lever E. The positions in which the contacts are closed are shown in the drawing by the reference characters desighating the positions of the lever E. For in.- stance, contact 52 of lever E bears reference character NB, which means that contact I2 is closed when the lever is in its full normal position N, its normal indication position B, or any position between the two.

Lever E is provided with a handle I3 having a latch to which a latch operated contact M is connected. Latch contact M is biased to an open position, but is so arranged as to close when the latch is actuated in preparation for moving lever E. Lever E is also provided with a normal lever lock NL and a reverse lever lock RL. Normal lever lockNL comprises a magnet I5 which actuates a locking dog it. Locking dog !6 engages a projection H on segment it, which is connected with lever E, to prevent a movement of lever E from the normal position N unless magnet I5 is energized. This arrangement also prevents, unless magnet i5 is energized, the movement of lever E past the normal indication position B when the lever is moved in the direction toward the normal position N. Similarly, the reverse lever lock BL is provided with a magnet l9 which actuates a locking dog 23. Locking dog 23 engages a projection 2! on segment 22, which is connected with lever E, to prevent lever E from being moved from its reverse position R, unless magnet I9 is energized. The arrangement also prevents, unless magnet 19 is energized, lever E from. being moved past its reverse indication position D when the lever is moved toward its reverse position R.

The lever locks NL and RL are controlled in part by a relay I-IR, which is energized by virtue of a circuit including all the detector and route locking circuits which protect switch S. Since the form of the circuit for relay HR forms no part of my present invention, it is indicated on the drawing conventionally. A polarized indication relay KR cooperates with relay HR to control the lever locks NL and RL.

With the apparatus in its normal condition, that is, the condition illustrated in the drawing, the relay HR is energized and relay KR is supplied with current of normal polarity by virtue of a circuit passing from one terminal BT of a source of current, such as a battery, not shown, through contact !--2 of pole changer P, winding of relay KB and contact 34 of pole changer P to the other terminal CT of the current source. Relay KR is energized, and polar contact members 23 and 24 are operated to the left-hand position, as viewed in the drawing, to make contact with normal polar contacts 25 and 26, respectively. Contact I of lever E is closed to complete a simple circuit which includes contact 1 of lever E and the winding of valve magnet NV, so that the valve magnet NV is energized and switch S is in its normal position.

When the operator desires to move switch S to its reverse position, latch contact 14 on handle l3 of lever E is first closed. This completes a circuit passing from terminal BT through contact 9 of lever E, front contact '21 of relay KR, front contact 28 of relay HR, normal polar contact 23--25, winding of magnet 15 of lever lock NL, and contact [4 to terminal CT. Magnet l5 becomes energized and lifts locking dog l6 out of engagement with projection ll of segment 18.

This releases segment 18 and permits the operator to: move lever E toward its reverse position R. It is to be noted that magnet ii of lever lock NL will only be energized if relay KR is in its normal position and relay HR is picked up. Therefore, when magnet 15 becomes energized to release lever E, the operator is assured that relay KR is in its normal position, checking the normal position of mechanism SM and switch S; and that relay I-m is picked up, checking the normal condition of the detector and route locking'circuits associated with the switch S. a

When the lever E moves past its normal indication position B, the circuit for valve magnet NV is opened at contact I of lever E and valve magnet NV becomes deenergized. Also, the circuit for magnet 15 of lever lock NL is opened at contact 9 of lever E so that magnet l5 becomes deenergized to release locking dog Hi.

When the lever reaches its reverse indication position D, further movement of the lever is prevented by the lever lock RL, as described previously. With lever E at reverse indication position D, a simple circuit which includes contact 8 of lever E and the winding of valve magnet RV is completed, and valve magnet RV becomes energized. Also, a first energizing circuit is completed for valve magnet LV, the circuit passing from terminal BT through contact ll of lever E, normal polar contact 26-24 of relay KR, and winding of valve magnet LV to terminal CT. With the valve magnets LV and RV energized, switch mechanism SM is actuated to move the switch to its reverse position. The switch mechanism in operating actuates pole changer P to open the normal contacts l 2 and 34 of pole changer P, and to open the energizing circuit for relay KR. Relay KR becomes deenergized, opens front contact 21, and closes back contact 29. Valve magnet LV is now provided with a second energizing circuit passing from terminal BT through contact I of lever E, back contact 29 of relay KR and winding of valve magnet LV to terminal CT.

When the switch mechanism SM and switch S reach full reverse position, pole changer P is shifted to its full reverse position and relay KR becomes energized by virtue of a circuit passing from terminal BT through contact 3 of pole changer P, winding of relay KR, and contact ?.-5 of pole changer P to terminal CT. Relay KR is now supplied with current of reverse polarity, and becomes energized to open back contact 29, to close front contact 2?, and to shift its polar contact members 23 and 24 to the right-hand position. Polar contact member 23 now engages reverse polar contact 39, and polar contact member 24 now engages reverse polar contact 3|.

The first energizing circuit for valve magnet LV is opened at the normal polarcontact 26-24, and the second energizing circuit for valve magnet LV is opened at back contact 29 of relay KR, so that valve magnet LV becomes deenergized to cut off the supply of air to the switch mechanism SM. Magnet l9 of lever lock RL now becomes energized by virtue of a circuit passing from terminal BT through contact ill of lever E, front contact 21 of relay KR, front contact 28 of relay HR, reverse polar contact 23--3!i, winding of magnet l9 and contact M to terminal CT. The energization of magnet l9 lifts locking dog 20 out of engagement with projection 2| of segment 22, so that lever E is released and may be moved to its full reverse position R.

It is to be noted that magnet I9 of lever lock RL will, not become energized unless relay KR is energized by current of reverse polarity, and therefore the energization of magnet l9 of lever lock RL and the consequent release of lever E indicates that relay KR is in agreement as to position with lever E, checking the reverse position of mechanism SM and switch S, and that relay HR is picked up checking the normal condition of the detector and route locking circuits associated with the switch S. j

When lever E is moved to its full reverse posi tion R, latch contact M on handle I3 is opened to open the energizing circuit for magnet iii of lever lock RL. Magnet IQ of lever lock RL becomes deenergized to release locking dog 20, and locking dog 21] makes engagement with projection 2i of segment 22 to lock lever E into its full reverse position R.

'IEhe apparatus operates in a similar manner for a movement of the lever E from the reverse position R to the normal position N, as can be readily understood by referring to the drawing.

It is to be understood that the contacts 9 and Ill of lever E may be replaced by a normally closed contact on an emergency release. This arrangement is not shown on the drawing, the arrangement illustrated being preferred since contacts 9 and Iii of lever E open the respective circuits controlled through contacts 9 and I!) When the lever is moving between the normal indication and the reverse indication positions of lever E. This arrangement allows lever E to be returned to its original position if the switch or switch mechanism does not move when the lever is operated. I

One advantage of apparatus embodying my invention is the provision of means to indicate at the lever the position of the switch in the full and the indication positions of the lever; and to provide these indications by means of the same apparatus which, as ordinarily employed in the art, provides .an indication of the position of the switch only in the indication positions of the lever.

Another advantage of apparatus embodying my invention is the provision of means to control the locking valve magnet over a single operating circuit. Prior to my invention, the control of the locking valve magnet, when indications are provided at the lever of the position of the switch at the full and indication positions of the lever,

required a first energizing circuit which initially energized the locking valve magnet and which was carried over a front contact of the switch indication relay, and a second energizing circuit which energized the locking valve magnet after an initial movement of the switch and switch mechanism had occurred, and which was carried over a back contact of the switch indication relay. With this construction, during the period that the movable contact member of the switch indication relay was moving between its front and back contacts, the locking valve magnet became deenergized. This might be undesirable because the deenergization of the locking valve magnet might interrupt the switch operation. However, apparatus embodying my invention provides means for carrying the first energizing circuit for the locking valve magnet over polar contacts, and independently of front contacts, of

the switch indication relay. Thus, the switch mechanism is controlled in a manner such that the locking valve magnet is energized by virtue of its first energizing circuit during the full stroke of the switch mechanism, and hence there is no deenergization of the locking valve magnet, and no interruption in the operation of the switch mechanism. And, since it is desirable to obtain a full working stroke of the switch mechanism free from interruptions, it can be seen that the apparatus, and especially that the arrangement of the apparatus embodying my invention, provides this desirable feature.

It is to be noted that apparatus embodying my invention provides the usual second energizing circuit for -the locking valve magnet. Since this circuit includes a back contact of the switch indication relay and is not employed in the ordinary operation of the switch mechanism, this second circuit provides a so-called checking circuit for the locking valve magnet. That is to say, for any movement of the switch mechanism caused by means other than a lever movement, the switch indication relay becomes released and closes a back contact to complete the checking circuit for the locking valve magnet, so that the switch mechanism is returned to the position corresponding with the switch lever.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may. be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway switch operated to its normal and reverse positions by a mechanism having a normal and a reverse position; a lever operable to a normal, a normal indication, a reverse, and a reverse indication position and provided with contacts closed at different positions of the lever; operating means governed by a normal indication or a reverse indication position contact of said lever for operating the mechanism to its normal or reverse position, a normal lever lock magnet operative when deenergized to lock the lever at its normal or normal indication position, a reverse lever lock magnet operative when deenergized to lock the lever at its reverse or reverse indication position, a polarized relay, means to supply said polarized relay with current of normal or reverse polarity according as said switch is in its normal or reverse position, a trafilc controlled relay responsive to traffic at the switch; a single circuit effective to energize said normal lever lock magnet consisting of the following elements in the order named,

a contact closed at the normal and normal indication positions of the lever, a front contact of said polarized relay, a front contact of said traffic controlled relay, a normal polar contact of said polarized relay, and the winding of said normal magnet; and a single circuit for energizing said reverse lever'lock magnet including the following elements in the order named, a contact closed at the reverse and the reverse indication positions of the lever, a front contact of said polarized relay, a front contact of said traffic controlled relay, a reverse polar contact of said polarized relay, and the winding of said reverse magnet.

2. In combination, a railway switch operated to its normal and reverse positions by a mechanism, a locking valve magnet for said mechanism eifective when deenergized to prevent said mechanism from operating, a polarized relay, means for supplying said relay with current of normal or reverse polarity according as said switch is in its normal or reverse position; a lever operable to a normal, a normal indication, a reverse and a reverse indication position and provided with contacts closed at different positions of the lever; a first energizing circuit for said locking valve magnet having two branch circuit paths one path of which includes a normal indication lever contact and a reverse polar contact of said relay and the other path of which includes a reverse indication lever contact and a normal polar contact of said relay, a second energizing circuit for said locking valve magnet including a back contact of said relay together with a lever contact closed in the normal position of said lever or a lever contact closed in the reverse position of said lever, a normal lever lock effective when deenergized to prevent the lever frombeing moved to and from its normal position, circuit means for energizing said normal lever lock including a front contact and a normal polar contact of said relay, a reverse lever lock effective when deenergized to prevent the lever from being moved to and from its reverse position, and circuit means for energizing said reverse lever lock including a front contact and a reverse polar contact of said relay.

3. In combination, a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a mechanism for operating said switch, a locking valve magnet for said mechanism effective when deenergized to prevent said mechanism from operating, a polarized relay, means for supplying said relay with current of normal or reverse polarity according as said switch is in its normal or reverse position; a lever operable to a normal, a normal indication, a reverse, and a. reverse indication position; a first circuit for energizing said locking valve magnet including a back contact of said relay together with a lever contact closed at the normal position of the lever or a lever contact closed in the reverse position of the lever; and a second circuit for energizing said locking valve magnet having two branch circuit paths one path of which includes a reverse polar contact of said relay and a lever contact closed at the normal and normal indication positions of the lever and the other path of which includes a normal polar contact of said relay and a lever contact closed in the reverse and reverse indication positions of the lever.

HENRY S. YOUNG. 

